Keeping trot(for tomorrow please)

[vimto92]

Ok....so I've only had a few lessons but this is worrying me a bit...in rising trot I cannot keep the pony i ride going.......I'd like some tips...I don't have a crop and personally I don't want to have to scare a pony with one either so any tips would ba a help. :) Vic

[LMS]

Hi Vic,
Every time you rise, squeeze with your calves. It's like reminding/asking your horse for a trot each time. The pressure you use will depend on how responsive your horse is. Try a medium pressure at first, then adjust.

Try and anticipate when your horse will be losing the trot to transition down, and ask with a strong leg to keep the trot going, once it's resumed, reward him with a softer pressure.

A dressage whip to reinforce you leg aid should not scare your horse unless he's never seen one or has been "abused" by one (meaning it has been used too strongly by one or inappropriatly by one).

My first pony really disliked crops (this is going back 29yrs) so I had to use my aids very strongly until he listned and of course, the more he understood what was required of him the more he was rewarded with a milder aid and less frequently until I could just keep a light yet firm leg support (#2 strength).

When giving an aid the rule of thumb with aids is: Ask-Tell-Demand.
Which means: Ask:when first applied, an aid should be given with the slightest possible degree or pressure. If the horse does not respond, the same aid is given again but a degree or two stronger (tell). If there still is no response, give the aid again but 5 to 6 degrees stronger (demand). At this point it can be reinforced with an artificial aid such as the crop or dressage whip used right behind your calf. The same applies when you're trying to keep the gait going.

Don't be shy to use your voice as well such as saying "trot" or making a noise (cluck or kiss). Give yourself small goals such as: keeping the trot once around the arena, then build up to 1X full arena & a change of rein across the school/diagonal and so on.


Good luck.

LMS

[MadWoman]

When they are learning lots of people tend to unconsciously pull on the reins when they rise, and so stop the horse. Try to think about not doing that when you trot.

[Purple Hugs]

will have a second attempt at posting! just managed to lose my post. :rolleyes:

I am along with you on having newly learnt rising trot and trying to maintain a trot with my RS horse.
Kappella is a little stubborn at the beginning of a lesson and walks v.slowly and doesn't want to trot when asked so my RI has asked I carry a crop and if she refuses 'tap' her on the shoulder (don't feel safe doing the flank and getting my hand back to the rein yet). Once i've tapped her once she doesn't forget I have the crop and I don't need it again to be honest! ;) Although to keep her in trot my RI has said to give her a tap when I feel her slowing to keep her going.

Will have to try the leg squeezing though! Just hope she doesn't go off into a canter! :eek:

I must admit I wouldn't be comfortable with hitting a horse either so am v.concious of making it a light tap and only if she's refused my 'asking' first. :)

Good luck continuing with your lessons, we sound like we are at similar stages.

[Kryss]

I had, and still sometimes have this trouble with RS horses. I find it difficult to keep good leg contact throughout. I was asked to carry a crop and it's good to learn to carry it at least. When I was told to use it found it worked fine..just moving it backwards is very often enough to remind the horse and gets a response. But I found that in reaching back I was also pulling on the reins...very confusing for the poor horse.
Once you've got him going, where I've found they slow is in corners at the ends of the arena..so a light leg in the straight and a bit more pressure where your horse tends to slow or walk should help! :)

[LMS]

Just came back from teaching a lesson, I wanted to add more...

Continuing on what MadWoman's train of thought: you also want to make sure that you're not balancing off the reins as well. Ask yourself this:"If my reins should break, dissapear (whichever), what would happen?" Would the horse keep going the same, lose the trot or would I fall back?

When you are posting: what are your legs doing? On the up motion do they stiffen & stick out? Or keep an even contact on the horse? Do the heels go up?

Just more things to ponder.

Re crop/whip use: the flank is a sensitive area. This artificial aid should be used in conjunction with the leg aid & right behind it. When using a crop: put both reins in one hand and then apply use of the crop. With a whip it takes a bit more finesse.

LMS

[Purple Hugs]

will be testing the rein tip on Tuesday.. thanks! have a feeling I do use them a bit for balance! :o